A small aircraft carrying five passengers has been missing for more than 21 hours after losing radio contact during a flight from Condoto, in Colombia’s Chocó department, to Guaymaral airport near Bogotá. The plane, a Cessna T206 registered as HK4985, disappeared somewhere along its route, and authorities have found no trace of it so far.
Search teams are focusing on the area around Tadó, a municipality in Chocó known for its dense jungle and mountainous terrain — conditions that make aerial searches especially difficult. Local officials, including the mayor of Tadó, have weighed in on the challenging geography complicating rescue efforts, while residents and aviation experts have noted that the circumstances surrounding the flight raised concerns even before contact was lost.
According to reports, the aircraft may have emitted a signal from its emergency locator beacon, a device designed to help pinpoint a downed plane’s location. Investigators are examining that signal as they try to narrow down the search zone.
Chocó, one of Colombia’s most biodiverse but least accessible regions, relies heavily on small aircraft to connect remote towns like Condoto with the capital, since road infrastructure in the area remains limited.
For the latest updates on the search and the identities of those aboard, read the full story at El Tiempo.
Source: La zona donde se perdió avioneta en la que viajaban 5 personas desde Condoto; alertan que vuelo 'no era normal' (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill.